University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Joe Murphy
Women’s Soccer Preseason Camp Opens
Aug 04, 2016 | Women's Soccer
Young squad officially practices together for first time
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The first official team practice of the 2016 women's soccer season is in the books and Memphis head coach Brooks Monaghan feels like his squad is already ahead of schedule after all 27 players spent the last month together on campus enrolled in classes.
"We're in a good place and a little ahead of the game," said Monaghan. "This group got here a month early and got to know each other. So we get to take a little bit of a different approach because of the time they spent together last month."
The entire squad of 27 players was enrolled in summer school together and was able to work with the strength and conditioning coaches during that time. The players weren't able to participate in soccer activities but still benefited from being together.
"We have already been working together for a month but it was without a soccer ball," sophomore Elizabeth Woerner said. "We were just working out, running and weight lifting. So actually getting to touch a ball with all of them was really awesome and I thought it was a very successful first day."
Woerner and last season's freshman class of 10 players was asked to contribute right from the start. Seven true freshmen played meaningful minutes, including four players who started nearly every match. This season the Tigers again have 10 freshmen and they will be expected to contribute in a big way.
The Tigers roster is young, made up of 20 total underclassmen to go with just five juniors and two seniors. One of the benefits of last season's freshman class playing so many minutes together is that they come into this season with plenty of chemistry already.
"It's nice (to already have chemistry). We also have a lot of incoming freshman as well. To have an underclassmen team is good, I'm excited about it. We have a ton of talent on the team so we'll just build that chemistry as it goes along," said Woerner.
A major part of every preseason is the annual fitness test administered by the coaching staff to gauge where each player is at physically and mentally. The task can be tougher for the freshmen that have never participated in the test.
"It was definitely challenging mentally but as a team we helped push each other through," freshman Maddy Uenking said. "We definitely got through it together, not individually but as a team."
Memphis has just over two weeks to prepare for the regular season opener on August 19 against Southeastern Louisiana at Mike Rose Soccer Complex. The Tigers will have the opportunity to test themselves in two preseason matches before the opener, first at Mississippi State on Aug. 10 and at Lipscomb on Aug. 12.
"We're in a good place and a little ahead of the game," said Monaghan. "This group got here a month early and got to know each other. So we get to take a little bit of a different approach because of the time they spent together last month."
The entire squad of 27 players was enrolled in summer school together and was able to work with the strength and conditioning coaches during that time. The players weren't able to participate in soccer activities but still benefited from being together.
"We have already been working together for a month but it was without a soccer ball," sophomore Elizabeth Woerner said. "We were just working out, running and weight lifting. So actually getting to touch a ball with all of them was really awesome and I thought it was a very successful first day."
Woerner and last season's freshman class of 10 players was asked to contribute right from the start. Seven true freshmen played meaningful minutes, including four players who started nearly every match. This season the Tigers again have 10 freshmen and they will be expected to contribute in a big way.
The Tigers roster is young, made up of 20 total underclassmen to go with just five juniors and two seniors. One of the benefits of last season's freshman class playing so many minutes together is that they come into this season with plenty of chemistry already.
"It's nice (to already have chemistry). We also have a lot of incoming freshman as well. To have an underclassmen team is good, I'm excited about it. We have a ton of talent on the team so we'll just build that chemistry as it goes along," said Woerner.
A major part of every preseason is the annual fitness test administered by the coaching staff to gauge where each player is at physically and mentally. The task can be tougher for the freshmen that have never participated in the test.
"It was definitely challenging mentally but as a team we helped push each other through," freshman Maddy Uenking said. "We definitely got through it together, not individually but as a team."
Memphis has just over two weeks to prepare for the regular season opener on August 19 against Southeastern Louisiana at Mike Rose Soccer Complex. The Tigers will have the opportunity to test themselves in two preseason matches before the opener, first at Mississippi State on Aug. 10 and at Lipscomb on Aug. 12.
Players Mentioned
D/M
/ Women's Soccer
M/F
/ Women's SoccerWomen's Soccer: Finley Lavin Press Conference-November 10, 2025
Monday, November 10
Women's Soccer: Brooks Monaghan Press Conference-November 10, 2025
Monday, November 10
Women's Soccer: Brooks Monaghan Press Conference-October 31, 2025
Friday, October 31
Women's Soccer: Finley Lavin Press Conference- July 29, 2025
Tuesday, July 29